National Park Service ranger in Washington shot boat passenger in apparent altercation over loud music

KETTLE FALLS, Wash. — Newly released court documents say a National Park Service ranger fired on an occupied boat near Kettle Falls last September after his partner was shoved from a gangplank into the water and the ranger heard "pops" that sounded like gunfire.

Michael Sublie, the owner of the boat, has been charged with assaulting a federal agent and obstructing justice stemming from the incident at a campground on the Kettle River last Sept. 14.

The Spokesman-Review reports that boat passenger Casey Hartinger was shot in the side by a bullet fired by Ranger Matthew Phillipson.

Court paperwork filed Tuesday by the government lists Phillipson as the shooter and Joshua Wentz as the ranger shoved by Sublie, who was approached for playing music too loud on his houseboat after quiet hours.